Guide to Franklin Identification

1902 - 1906 Cross Engine

Series A, B, E, F
1902-03 Angular hood, 1 brake drum
1904-05 Rounded hood, 2 brake drums
1902-04 4 valve pushrods on exhaust only
1905-06 8 push rods, rear fender runs to step plate

1905 - 1910 Barrel Hood

Series G, D, H
1905-06 Longitudinal engine, horizontal fins, shaft drive, paired valves, dash oiler, hood round
1907 Open mesh hood, paired valves horizontal fins, no dash oiler, no engine shrouds
1908-09 Open mesh, concentric valves, no shrouds, horizontal fins
1910 Fine mesh hood, concentric valves, vertical fins, air dam, large wheels

1911 - 1916 Renault Hood

Series G, M, D, H & 1-8
1911 D & H 6 cylinder, G & M 4 cylinder right hand drive, brass lamps
1912 1, 2, M D, H 6 cylinder, G 4 cylinder, right drive, nickel lamps, dash vents
1913 3, M, D, H 6 cylinder, G 4 cylinder, right drive, nickel electric headlamps, electric start
1914 4, 5, 6, 7, - 4 & 5 mesh grill insert, 6 & 7 stamped louvers, Dyneto electric, cowl lights on 4 & 5
1915 early 16 8 Stamped louvers, complex dash, enclosed valves, no hood handle or hand crank

1916 - 1921 "Shovel Nose" Hood

Series 9
Mid 1916 & 17 9A Hood flairs smoothly into cowl, rear blower, vertical windshield
1918-21 9B Sloped windshield, low horsecollar grill, in 21, some exterior horns. ACN #31 has Series 9 detail features.

1922 - 1925 Horse Collar Hood

1922-10A Aluminum blower housing, exterior horn, cowl vent doors.
1922-24 10B Aluminum blower housing, cowl vent doors, horn under hood
1924 early 25 10C Steel blower housing, cowl vent doors, lion ornament, 21" balloon tires.

1925 - 1929 DeCausse Styled Hood

Mid 1925-26 11A 21" tires, round headlight bar
1927 11B 20" tires, flat headlight bar
1928 12A 4 wheel brakes, some fender mirrors, rounded corners on hood front
1928 12B Like 12A, longer wheelbase cars have steel frame
1929 13 Most have Ryan lights, vertical hood louvers, all cars have steel frame.
Beginning of deluxe series cars

Dietrich Styles & Sidedraft Cooled The New Airman Series 14 - 16 and 19

1930 14 Hood horizontal louvers, narrow hood front edge
1931 15 Hood doors 3 plus 1 space, wider hood front edge
1932 16A Hood 4 equal doors, slight "V" hood front with visible shutters
1933 16B 4 equal doors, slight "V" hood front with grille covering shutters
1934 19 "V" hood front, hood covers cowl, regular springs

The LeBaron Style Twelve Series 17

1932-34 17A, B V-12's, long high hood with 6 doors, "V" hood front, semi-elliptic springs

The Olympic Franklin Engine/Reo Body Series 18

1933 18A Flat bumper, no fender skirt. flatter hood front
1933 18B "V" bumper, fender skirt, flatted hood front
1934 18C "V" bumper, fender skirt, "V" hood front all have semi-elliptic springs